NFL closes the Antonio Brown helmet loophole

Posted by Mike Florio on August 17, 2019, 7:10 PM EDT

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“NFL” apparently stands for “No F–kin’ Loophole.”

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the NFL decided to require testing of the Schutt AiR Advantage after previously informing the Raiders that, if receiver Antonio Brown could find one less than 10 years old, he could use it. The helmet failed the test.

Brown had found several Schutt AiR Advantage helmets that had been made within the last decade, including an AiR Advantage made in 2014 for film. NOCSAE certified one specific helmet, made in 2010, for use. But then the NFL told the Raiders that the helmet would have to be tested before it could be used.

Brown’s representatives recently sent the helmet for testing. Earlier today, Brown was informed that the helmet failed the test.

The Schutt AiR Advantage was not among 11 models that became prohibited this year. Brown wasn’t able to use the helmet he’s worn his entire NFL career because it’s more than 10 years old, and NOCSAE will not certify any helmet that is more than 10 years old.

To summarize: The NFL wins again.

That said, the source informed PFT that we haven’t heard the last of Brown on this issue. To find out what that means, refill the tub of popcorn and stay tuned.

Probably shouldn’t have threatened Rodger. He got mad and now he reversed what he said. Nfl just does whatever they feel like. Abuse a kid ,no suspension, you kick a drunk thot outside a hotel, almost a whole season. You do drugs,might be 4 games might just reinstate you 24 times, who knows

Asinine. An employer deemed a piece of safety equipment unsafe. They didn’t wake up and think what on Earth could they do to PO someone off. Myself, I would let a guy wear what he wanted as long as he signed a waiver absolving the NFL from any liability associated with the use of that helmet, injury, performance, you name it.

Already making excuses Joey? Blah schedule, blah screwing the Raiders, blah, blah, blah. You can blame the schedule all you want and ignore hiring Gruden, signing a headache on Brown and blowing all your draft capital. 4th In The West again.

The NFL is right here, that helmet HAS to pass inspection. Let’s say the plastic is fragile and fails stress testing… that would indicate a helmet to helmet hit could fracture the helmet. Would the NFL want to get involved in a lawsuit for allowing a fragile helmet into a league game? On the other hand, if the helmet passes all testing and proves as comparable as any other certified helmet then yeah, by all means go play and have fun. The solution has to work for both parties… the player, and the league.

According to the SF Chronicle (Matt Kawahara, 15th Aug), the NFL never originally said Brown could just use a NOCSAE recertified helmet – and despite being emailed by the paper, the NFL declined to clarify whether they would also check the helmet.

The helmet isn’t banned , he had the same model for ten years. It just needs to be the same model but not ten years old. Everyone who thinks it’s a banned model is wrong. He made someone upset and the are now adding additional requirements.

Oh lord, stop whining that weed is some god awful drug, that couldn’t be further from reality. You should’ve stopped at the tyreek hill/kareem hunt example, you would’ve had a point but now you just sound like some whiny fool

bakerthetdmaker says:
August 17, 2019 at 7:58 pm
Probably shouldn’t have threatened Rodger. He got mad and now he reversed what he said. Nfl just does whatever they feel like. Abuse a kid ,no suspension, you kick a drunk thot outside a hotel, almost a whole season. You do drugs,might be 4 games might just reinstate you 24 times, who knows

Ok AB, what next? The ball is in your court for some kind of a comeback. You gonna threaten to hold your breath until you turn blue or maybe chop off some of those frozen toes if the NFL doesn’t cave into your childish demands?

I say keep helmet-gate going. I like to picture Brown scouring the country in an suv trying to find the last AirSchutt Advantage helmet that will past the test. Meanwhile he’s missed 6 games, the Raiders are 2-4 and somewhere that one perfect helmet is out there…just out of reach.